Detection of pollution transport events southeast of Mexico City using ground-based visible spectroscopy measurements of nitrogen dioxide

• Published in: Atmospheric chemistry and physics discussions Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 4769 - 4804
• Main Authors: Melamed, M L, Basaldud, R, Steinbrecher, R, Emeis, S, Ruiz-Suarez, L G, Grutter, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 24.02.2009
• Subjects: Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico City
• ISSN: 1680-7367

This work presents ground based differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO sub(2)) during the MILAGRO field campaign in March 2006 at the Tenango del Aire research site located to the southeast of Mexico City. The DOAS NO sub(2) column density measurements are used in conjunction with ceilometer, meteorological and surface nitrogen oxides (NO sub(x)) and total reactive nitrogen (NO sub(y)) measurements to show a more comprehensive view of air pollution results when a research site has both surface and remote sensing instruments. An in depth analysis of 13 March 2006 demonstrates how DOAS NO sub(2), surface NO sub(2) and ceilometer data can be used to determine the extent of mixing of the pollution layer. In addition, we show the effectiveness of how DOAS measurements can be used to observe pollution sources that may reside above the mixing layer, such as the presence of lightning produced NO sub(2) as seen on 28 March 2006.